To mark today’s World Stroke Day, the UK’s Stroke Association has joined with the World Stroke Organisation to launch the first ever global worldwide symbol for stroke solidarity.

The stroke solidarity string is a bracelet which aims to bring people together to raise awareness of strokes, and fundraise for the Stroke Association.

One in every six people in the world will have a stroke – in the UK, someone has one every five minutes, and over a million people are living with the effects, the organisations advise.

“Stroke is the killer disease that we’ve ignored for too long,” the Stroke Association said in a statement. “Solidarity String will give stroke an identity, and wearing it will show stroke survivors that they are not alone.

“The message for the Stroke Solidarity String is ‘Wear it, Show it, Share it.’”

The String costs £2 and is available to buy from the Stroke Association website from today.